Method of and apparatus for virtual shooting practice

ABSTRACT

A method of and apparatus for virtual shooting practice comprises a displayed shooting practice image including a target portion and a simulated gun. As the target portion of the image moves relative to the remainder thereof, the simulated gun is moved relative to the displayed image and relative to the moving target portion. Movement of the simulated gun is compared with the movement of the target portion of the displayed image resulting in a determination of whether a “shot” from the gun is a “hit” or a “miss”.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Applicant claims priority based on provisional patent application Ser.No. 60/698,768 filed Jul. 12, 2005, the entire content of which isincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to a method of and apparatus forvirtual shooting practice, and more particularly to a method of andapparatus for practicing bird shooting, artificial target shooting, andpolice and military combat shooting which does not require the actualdischarge of firearms.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Like participants in all other sports, persons wishing to excel in thesport of bird shooting must practice between hunting activities. Longago live birds, particularly pigeons, were used to simulate actualhunting situations. Due to the expense and inconvenience involved ingathering a sufficient number of live birds to facilitate worthwhilepractice, artificial targets, commonly referred to as a “clay pigeons”,were substituted for live birds. Today, shooters frequently usefacilitates known as skeet, trap, sporting clays, etc. to hone theirbird shooting skills. Also, many shooters engage in skeet, trap,sporting clays, etc. as sports in and of themselves to the exclusion ofactual bird shooting.

Regardless of whether artificial targets are utilized to practice forbird shooting or for targeting shooting competitions, finding a venuesuitable for artificial target shooting can be problematic. Real orimagined problems such as danger to people and property from arrantprojectiles, air and water pollution, noise pollution, etc. virtuallyrule out artificial target shooting in heavily populated urban areas.Parcels of land of sufficient size and suitable location to facilitateartificial target shooting activities are often prohibitably expensiveeven when located 100 miles or more from centers of urban areas. Forthese reasons fewer and fewer shooters are able to find artificialtarget shooting facilities that they can afford.

A similar circumstance presents itself to police and military personnel.Obviously, such individuals must practice on a continuous basis in orderto be prepared when an armed combat situation arises. Because thehandguns and long guns used in police and military combat have muchlonger ranges as compared with shotguns, projectile containment is anabsolute necessity. This fact together with real or imagined concernsover air and water pollution and noise pollution virtually rule outpolice and military shooting practice in areas that are even remotelyclose to civilian populations.

In accordance with the broader aspects of the present inventionsimulated live bird targets, simulated artificial targets, and simulatedpolice and military targets are generated electronically. Sportsmen andwomen, police personnel, and military personnel are provided withsimulated weapons which are matched as closely as possible to the actualweapons that will be used in the field, on the range, or in combatsituations. However, rather than discharging actual projectiles, thesimulated weapons generate an electronic signal which interacts with thesimulated target to score a “hit” or a “miss” depending upon how thesimulated weapon is manipulated relative to the simulated target. Animportant feature of the invention comprises the fact that in the caseof a “miss” the “shot” can be replayed thereby providing instantfeedback as to why the “miss” occurred and the correction that isnecessary in order to avoid another “miss”.

In accordance with more specific aspects of the invention virtual targetpractice activities utilizing the present invention may take place infull dome, half dome, or cylindrical practice arenas. Simulated livebird shooting is facilitated utilizing a full dome practice arena whichallows simulated birds to “fly” from and toward all directions; at anyand all conceivable angles and speeds; and in front of, over, or behindthe individual that is trying to “shoot” them. Simulated artificialtarget sports can be successfully practiced in half dome arenas whichare easily adapted to simulate actual skeet, trap, or and sporting claysranges as well as the facilities utilized in other artificial targetgames. The cylindrical arena lends itself to practice by police andmilitary personnel in that it simulates actual combat situations inwhich opponents utilize readily available objects for concealment andprotection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had byreference to the following Detailed Description when taken in connectionwith the accompanying Drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a first embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 1A is a break out of part of FIG. 1 illustrating a particularfeature of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a first version of a secondembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a second version of the secondembodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a third embodiment of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the Drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 1A, thereis shown a method of and an apparatus for virtual shooting practiceincorporating a first embodiment of the invention. In accordancetherewith a shooting practice venue 10 comprises a full dome 12 whichcompletely encloses a shooter 14. That is, the full dome 12 extendsentirely around and over the shooter 14.

The interior surface 16 of the dome 12 comprises a display service uponwhich a simulated hunting venue 18 is displayed. The simulated huntingvenue 18 may be displayed on the interior surface 16 utilizingconventional display techniques of the type utilized in movie theaters,projection television systems, and the like. In such instances thedisplay may emanate from one or more devices 20 situated within the dome12. Alternatively, the venue 18 may comprise an LED display, a liquidcrystal display, a plasma display, etc. utilizing well knowntechnologies.

The shooter 14 is provided with a simulated shotgun 24 which is matchedas closely as possible in weight and physical dimensions to the actualshotgun that the shooter 14 will use when hunting live birds. Thesimulated shotgun 24 does not discharge actual projectiles, but insteaddischarges an electronic beam 26 which interacts with the simulatedhunting venue 18 displayed on the interior surface 16 of the full dome12. Depending upon how the shooter 14 manipulates the simulated shotgun24 relative to one or more “birds” 20 which “fly” across the interiorsurface 16 of the full dome 12, each “shot” made by the shooter 14 iscalculated and recorded as a “hit” or as a “miss”.

An important feature of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1A. Inattempting to “kill” the “birds” 28 the shooter 14 moves the simulatedshotgun 24 at a speed equal to or slightly greater than the simulatedflight of the “birds” 28 across the simulated hunting venue 18 and in sodoing established a lead relative to the “birds” 28 as indicated by thepoint X. However, in order to “kill” the “birds” 28, it was necessaryfor the shooter 14 to move the simulated shotgun 24 in such a manner asto establish a lead as indicated by the point Y. In accordance with thepresent invention any or all previous “shots” can be replayed togetherwith a verbal or visual explanation of why the “miss” occurred, therebyallowing the shooter 14 to learn from the mistake and in so doingenhance his or her shooting skills.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the shooting practice venue 10 furtherincludes a data input device 30 which can be used for a variety ofpurposes one of which is to allow the shooter 14 to select a particularsimulated bird species that will be utilized in the simulated huntingvenue 18. For example, the shooter 14 may select any of a variety ofdove species, quail species, partridge species, ringneck or otherpheasant species, any of a variety of duck species, geese species, etc.Depending upon the particular simulated bird species selected by thehunter 14, the images comprising remainder of the simulated huntingvenue 18 will change dramatically. In this manner the hunter 14 isprovided with a simulated hunting situation that is as realistic aspossible. The data input device 30 may also be used to vary thesimulated flight speed and the simulated flight path of the “birds” 28as they “fly” across the venue 18.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a simulated skeet field or rangecomprising a first version of a second embodiment of the invention. FIG.3 illustrates a simulated trap field or range 38 comprising a secondversion of the second embodiment of the invention. Many of the componentparts of the simulated skeet field or range 36 and of the simulated trapfield or range 38 are substantially identical in construction andfunction to component parts of the shooting practice venue 10illustrated in FIG. 1 and described hereinabove in conjunctiontherewith. Such identical component parts are designated in FIGS. 2 and3 with the same reference numerals utilized in the foregoing descriptionof the shooting practice venue 10 but are differentiated therefrom bymeans of a prime (′) designation.

In lieu of the full dome 12 of the shooting practice venue 10 of FIG. 1,both the simulated skeet field or range 36 and the simulated trap fieldor range 38 utilize a half dome 40. As is well known to those skilled inthe art, neither skeet nor trap employs targets which fly behind orabove the shooter 14′. Therefore, a half dome is adequate for simulatingthe games of skeet and trap. However, other simulated artificial targetgames may require different dome configurations.

As is well known, when participating in artificial target games such asa skeet and trap, the shooter 14′ calls for a target by speaking theword “pull” or a similar word in a loud, clear voice. When participatingin a simulated artificial target game incorporating the presentinvention, the shooter 14′ likewise calls for a target whereupon one ormore simulated artificial targets 42 travel along flight paths 44emulating the actual flight paths of real artificial targets. Movementof the simulated gun relative to the simulated artificial targets 42 iscompared and calculated to determine whether the target has been “hit”or “missed”.

The shooter 14′ sequentially stands on a plurality of stations 46 whichare dimensioned and positioned to match as closely as possible theshooting stations of actual artificial target shooting games. Likewise,scoring is identical to the scoring of the actual artificial target gamethat is being simulated with the only exception being that a “shot” canbe replayed in order to provide positive feedback to the shooter 14′,thereby allowing the shooter to make corrections which will hopefullyeliminate a “miss” on a subsequent “shot”.

The data input device 30′ may be employed to introduce variables intothe play of the simulated artificial target shooting games comprisingthe second embodiment of the invention which are not possible in theplay of actual artificial target shooting games. For example, in thecase of novice shooters the data input device 30′ can be employed tocause the simulated artificial targets 42 to “fly” more slowly along theflight paths 44 than would be possible in the case of actual artificialtargets. Conversely, in the case of experienced shooters the data inputdevice 30′ can be used to randomly vary the period of time that elapsesafter the shooter 14′ calls for a target until the simulated artificialtarget is actually “released”, to randomly vary the speed at which theartificial targets “fly” along their respective flight paths, torandomly vary the angles of the flight paths, etc. None of thesepossibilities is available in the case of conventional artificial targetshooting games utilizing real artificial targets.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a police/military combat practicevenue 46 comprising a third embodiment of the invention. Many of thecomponent parts of the police/military combat practice venue 46 aresubstantially identical to construction and function to component partsof the shooting practice venue 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 and describedhereinabove in conjunction therewith. Such identical component parts aredesignated in FIG. 4 with the same reference numerals utilizing theforegoing description of the shooting practice venue 10 but aredifferentiated therefrom by means of a double prime (″) designation.

The police/military combat practice venue 46 is illustrated in FIG. 4 ascomprising a semi-cylindrical enclosure 48. As will be appreciated bythose skilled in the art, the police/military combat practice venue 46may also comprise a full dome enclosure of the type illustrated in FIG.1 or a half dome enclosure of the type illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. Theuse of a semi-cylindrical enclosure of the type illustrated in FIG. 4 ispreferable in some instances because it allows the venue 46 to beincorporated into a conventional office building or warehouse.

The venue 46 differs from the venue 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 anddescribed hereinabove in conjunction therewith in that the venue 46employs a plurality of props such as a real or simulated automobile 50,one or more real or simulated containers 52, a real or simulated trashreceptacle 54, etc. The purpose of incorporating one or more props intothe venue 46 is to provide the shooter 14″ with a plurality of simulatedconcealment and protection opportunities.

The venue 46 further differs from the venue 10 of FIG. 1 in that ratherthan displaying one or more birds engaged in simulated flight or othermovement across the display surface of the venue, the venue 46 displaysa plurality of simulated human beings 56 some or all of which may beengaged in simulated combat with the shooter 14″ at any given time.Additionally, some or all of the simulated human beings 56 of the venue46 may be engaged in simulated evasion and/or flight at any given time.In this manner the venue 46 simulates as closely as possible the reallife combat situations which may be encountered by police and/ormilitary personnel, and thereby allows police and military personnelutilizing the present invention to experience a very realistic practicesession.

The data input device 30″ may be utilized to vary the particular combatpractice scenario that is displayed on the interior surface 16″ of thecylindrical enclosure 48 comprising the venue 46. For example, the datainput device 30″ may be used to display a jungle scenario, an arcticscenario, a robbery scenario, a terrorist scenario, a military scenarioin which the human beings 56 are uniformed soldiers, etc. The data inputdevice 30″ may also be used to vary the number of human beings 56 andthe aggressiveness thereof dependent upon the skill level of the shooter14″.

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated inthe accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing DetailedDescription, it will be understood that the invention is not limited tothe embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements,modifications, and substitutions of parts and elements without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

1. A method of virtual shooting practice comprising the steps of:providing a display surface; providing a shooting practice imageincluding a target portion; displaying the shooting practice image onthe display surface; moving the target portion of the shooting practiceimage across the display surface and relative to the remainder of theshooting practice image; providing a simulated gun; moving the simulatedgun relative to the displayed shooting practice image and pursuant tomovement of the target portion thereof; and comparing the movement ofthe simulated gun with the movement of the target portion of theshooting practice image.
 2. A virtual shooting practice apparatuscomprising: a display surface; means for generating a shooting practiceimage including a target portion; means for displaying the shootingpractice image on the display surface; means for moving the targetportion of the shooting practice image across the display surface andrelative to the remainder of the shooting practice image; a simulatedgun adapted for movement relative to the displayed shooting practiceimage and relative to the moving target portion thereof; and means forcomparing the movement of the simulated gun with the movement of thetarget portion of the shooting practice image.
 3. The method of virtualshooting practice of claim 1, wherein the target portion of the shootingpractice image is a simulated live bird target.
 4. The method of virtualshooting practice of claim 1, wherein the target portion of the shootingpractice image is a simulated artificial target.
 5. The method ofvirtual shooting practice of claim 1, wherein the target portion of theshooting practice image is a simulated police target.
 6. The method ofvirtual shooting practice of claim 1, wherein the target portion of theshooting practice image is a simulated military target.
 7. The method ofvirtual shooting practice of claim 1, wherein a simulated huntingenvironment is displayed on the display surface.
 8. The method ofvirtual shooting practice of claim 1, wherein a simulated artificialtarget shooting environment is displayed on the display surface.
 9. Themethod of virtual shooting practice of claim 1, wherein a simulatedpolice scenario is displayed on the display surface.
 10. The method ofvirtual shooting practice of claim 1, wherein a simulated militaryscenario is displayed on the display surface.
 11. The virtual shootingpractice apparatus of claim 2, wherein the target portion of theshooting practice image is a simulated live bird target.
 12. The virtualshooting practice apparatus of claim 2, wherein the target portion ofthe shooting practice image is a simulated artificial target.
 13. Thevirtual shooting practice apparatus of claim 2, wherein the targetportion of the shooting practice image is a simulated police target. 14.The virtual shooting practice apparatus of claim 2, wherein the targetportion of the shooting practice image is a simulated military target.15. The virtual shooting practice apparatus of claim 2, wherein asimulated hunting environment is displayed on the display surface. 16.The virtual shooting practice apparatus of claim 2, wherein a simulatedartificial target shooting environment is displayed on the displaysurface.
 17. The virtual shooting practice apparatus of claim 2, whereina simulated police scenario is displayed on the display surface.
 18. Thevirtual shooting practice apparatus of claim 2, wherein a simulatedmilitary scenario is displayed on the display surface.